Sjögren’s

Rheumatic & Musculoskeletal

Overview
Symptoms
Research
Resources
Stories & Profiles

Overview

Sjögren's is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the entire body. While it is most commonly known for causing dryness, fatigue, and joint pain, it also leads to organ dysfunction including the kidneys, lungs, liver, pancreas, gastrointestinal system, blood vessels, and the central nervous system.

At A Glance

Rheumatic & Musculoskeletal condition Autoimmune condition Long-term condition

Common Signs And Symptoms

Dry Eyes Mouth And Nose
Swollen Salivary Glands
Fatigue
Joint Pain
Dry Throat And Frequent Coughing
Dry Skin Or Skin Rashes

People with Sjögren's may experience a variety of symptoms including:

Types of Sjögren’s

Learn more about the two main types of Sjögren's:

Secondary Sjögren'sOccurs with another rheumatic disease such as lupus, scleroderma, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Primary Sjögren'sOccurs on its own, without the presence of an underlying rheumatic disease such as lupus, scleroderma, and rheumatoid arthritis. ‍

Diagnosis Journey

The signs and symptoms of Sjögren's might differ from person to person and resemble those of other conditions, making a diagnosis difficult. The following tests can be used to confirm Sjögren's and rule out other conditions:

Blood TestsEvaluates the presence of specific antibodies that are common in Sjögren's.Eye TestsThe Schirmer test is a common test that measures eye dryness and tear production. The ocular surface staining test checks for damage and dryness on the surfaces of eyes.ImagingSialogram and salivary scintigraphy are tests that check the function of salivary glands and how much saliva is produced.Lip BiopsyDetects the presence of inflammation and inflammatory cells in the salivary glands.

Treatment Options

Treatment for Sjögren's is dependent on the affected body parts, but most commonly targets dry eye and dry mouth.

Medications

Medications used for managing Sjögren's include:

01Artificial Tears and Prescription Eye DropsAlleviates dryness and inflammation in the eyes.
02NSAIDs(Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs)Manages pain related to arthritis and reduces inflammation.
03DMARDs(Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs)Hydroxychloroquine and methotrexate are types of DMARDs that target systemic symptoms.
04Saliva StimulantsEnhances saliva production to improve dry mouth.

Ongoing Research

Sjögren’s is a disease that requires more effective treatment options. To find these new treatments for Sjögren’s, further research is necessary.

Current Research Studies

There are over 50 clinical trials actively recruiting participants with Sjögren’s. Visit ClinicalTrials.gov to find Sjögren’s research studies near you.

Research & Resources

Clinical research helps scientists learn more about Sjögren’s and develop better treatments for the future.